Leigh Purvis, MPA

Director, Health Services Research

Areas of Expertise

Profile

Leigh Purvis is the Director of Health Services Research in AARP’s Public Policy Institute. She leads a team of policy analysts and researchers who work on health care issues that are relevant to the 50+ population. In addition, Ms. Purvis heads the Institute’s work on prescription drug and mental health issues. Her primary areas of expertise are prescription drug pricing, biologic drugs, and prescription drug coverage under Medicare. She is a coauthor of the Public Policy Institute’s annual Rx Price Watch reports, which track price trends for prescription drugs widely used by older Americans.

Ms. Purvis joined AARP in 2005 as a senior policy research analyst. Prior to her tenure at AARP, she worked for the American Psychological Association. Ms. Purvis is a recognized expert on prescription drug issues and frequently speaks with the press.

Ms. Purvis has a MPA with a concentration in health administration and policy from George Mason University and a BS in psychology from the University of Mary Washington. She also holds a certificate in gerontology from the University of Washington.

In Her Words

“Among the senior population, there’s often a troubling dynamic between high prescription drug costs and a need to forego other basic necessities.” “Hard to Swallow: Drug Prices for Seniors Jump 26%,” Fox Business News, March 30, 2012